Means for macerating bagasse



Nov. 17, 1936. w HYMERS 2,061,196

MEANS FOR MACERATING BAGASSE Filed Sept. '7, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet lgwuc/wlov Willi am D. Hymeris,

NOV. 17, 1936. w D HYMERS 2,061,196

MEANS FOR MACERATING BAGASSE Filed Sept. 7, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm hz'ZZi am D. @mers,

UNITE Patented Nov. 17, 1936 MEANS FOR MACERATING BAGASSE ApplicationSeptember 7, 1934, Serial No. 743,071

1 Claim. (01. 47)

HQE

This application is a continuation in part, of my application filedSeptember 1, 1933, Serial No. 687,791.

This invention relates generally to juice-expressing apparatus, and morespecifically to an improved means for macerating bagasse during passagethereof through a juice-expressing apparatus, the predominant object ofthe invention being to improve the operation of macerating the bagasseto such extent that the efiiciency of the juice-expressing apparatus isvery greatly increased.

The predominant feature of this invention resides in the fact that theturnplate of the mill forming a part of a juice-expressing apparatusconstructed in accordance with the invention, or of each of such millswhen the apparatus includes a plurality of mills, is so constructed andarranged that macerating liquid may be discharged therefrom into the matof bagasse passing over said turnplate. A number of advantages arisebecause of this arrangement, the most important of which is that thebagasse may be more completely macerated than heretofore, as will beapparent after consideration of the detail description of the invention,which will be hereinafter set forth. Also such arrangement of theturnplate permits of said turnplate being arranged very much lower thanwas the case heretofore, whereby more room is provided for expansion andswelling of the bagasse. This results in the bagasse absorbing themacerating fluid much more easily and permits said macerating fluid tobe pumped into the bagasse at a lower pressure than would be possible ifexpansion of the bagasse were restricted by the turnplate. In additionto the foregoing, it has been found in actual practice that the loweredturnplate reduces the friction on the mills, and also that the hydraulicpressure on the top rolls of the mills may be reduced almost to aminimum. In fact, in actual operation of an apparatus constructed inaccordance with the invention the hydraulic pressure on the top rolls ofthe mills has been reduced from 504 tons pressure to tons pressure,while maintaining the same sucrose extraction and sucrose and moisturecontents in the bagasse.

Other features of the invention relate to the particular construction ofthe improved macerating turnplate and the connections of same, and theparticular improved method of distributing the macerating juices so asto obtain the maximum macerating effect.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical View illustrating the improved method ofdistributing the macerating liquids in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in vertical section and partly inelevation, of a juice-expressing apparatus constructed and arranged inaccordance with this invention.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the trash bar and turnplate whichconstitute parts of the invention.

Figure 4 is a vertical section on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the turnplate showing the liquid-dischargeorifices thereof.

Figure 6 shows a modified form of a part of the invention.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view through the turnplate.

In the drawings, wherein are shown for the purpose of illustration,merely, several embodiments of the invention, A designates in Figures 1and 2, the improved juice-expressing apparatus, generally. In Figure 1the apparatus A is illustrated as comprising a preliminary crusher B, afirst mill C, a second mill D, and a third mill E. In Figure 2 only thesecond mill D and the third mill E are illustrated in order that saidview might be made on a larger scale. The apparatus A, of course,includes the usual transfer mechanisms for conducting sugar cane to thepreliminary crusher and for moving the bagasse between the various millsand conducting said bagasse away from the final mill, but as suchtransfer mechanisms form no part of the present invention and are ofcommon and well known construction, the same have been illustrateddiagrammatically only in the drawings hereof and lettered G. The millsillustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and the preliminary crusher shown inFigure 1 are of the usual construction and arrangement, and it willtherefore not be necessary to describe the constructions of these partsof the apparatus in detail herein, it being sufiicient to say for thesake of clearness of description of the invention that the crusher is ofthe usual tworoll type while the mills are each comprised of three rollsarranged in the well-known manner as illustrated.

Associated with each of the mills C, D, and E is a trash bar I, which inthe present instance is illustrated as being adjustably supported upon abase 3, as will now be set forth. The bar includes a bearing block 4seated within a channel 5 of the base 3, defined by upstanding ribs 6.The block 4 has slots 1 formed in the base flange for reception ofmounting bolts 9 which engage within respective screw-threaded aperturesin the base of the channel 5. In each of the ribs 6 there is threadedlyengaged an adjusting bolt ID, the inner ends of which are in abuttingrelation with the base flanges 8. With this construction it will bereadily seen that the trash bar I may be adjusted longitudinally withrespect to the base 3, in order to vary the relation of the trash barand the feed roll.

At its upper end each trash bar is provided with a turnplate saidturnplate being fixed to the trash bar in any suitable manner and havingan edge or toe portion l2 which is shaped to contact closely with thecircumferential face of the feed roll F of the associated mill in theusual manner. The turnplate ll of each trash bar is provided with anelongated opening l3 (Figs. 3 and 4 and 7) which constitutes a headerand extends longitudinally thereof, and formed vertically in saidturnplate is a plurality of fluid passage-ways M which communicate attheir upper ends with said elongated opening l3. The

fluid passageways M are formed in the portion of each turnplate whichincludes the downwardly extended portion l5, and the walls at the lowerends of said elongated opening I3. The fluid passageways M are formed inthe portion of each turn-plate which includes the downwardly extendedportion I5, and the walls at the lower ends of the passageways, whichare open at the bottom face of said downwardly extended portion, areprovided with screw threads as indicated at IS in Figure '7. The topface of the turnplate II of each trash bar is recessed, as indicated atI1, in Figures 4 and 7, and a perforated plate I8 is set into thisrecess. The recess is so arranged that the perforated plate covers theelongated opening I3 at its top, the perforations Hi thereof being incommunication with said elongated openings so that fluid which is forcedinto said elongated opening will be forcibly discharged from saidperforations. It will be noted from a consideration of Figure 7, thatthe orifices l9 are of a tapered formation, the apices of which arepresented toward the top rolls, generally indicated at T, and by thisconstruction it will be apparent that the perforations produce ajeteffect of fluid discharged into the bagasse during itspas'sage overthe turnplate I.

It is important that the channel |3 should have a definite spacedrelation to the toe portion 2 of the turnplate in order to provide aproper learanc'e between top roll T and the concave -.ace of theturnplate, to permit expansion of the bagasse, thereby avoiding thestoppage of the apertures l9. In actual practice, there is a distance ofapproximately seven inches between the tip of the toe to the medialportion of the channel |'3; In any event, the channel l3 should occuplythe lowest point in the concave face 20.

Attention is now particularly invited to Figure 1 of the drawings,wherein it will be noted that the turnplates H as associated with thetop rolls of the mills C; D, and E are spaced progressively closer tothe rolls, and that the upper concave faces 20 of the turnplate definerespective pockets beneath each roll thereby permitting ready expansionof the bagasse with resultant thorough absorption of macerating fluiddischarged from the jets or orifices l9. Each t'rash bar I hasassociated with it at its lower end a fluid header 2| which is elongatedand extends longitudinally thereof, as shown in Figure 3. The header 2|of each trash bar has connected thereto for communication therewith aplurality of fluid conductors 22, the opposite or upper end portions ofsaid fluid conductors being screwed into the lower screw-threaded endportions of the fluid passageways Id of the associated turnplateArranged beneath each of the mills C, D, and E is a pair of juice trays23 and 24, the tray 23 being located beneath the feed roll F of the milland the tray 24 being located beneath the bagasse roll R of the mill.These trays receive the juice expressed from bagasse which is passedthrough the various mills, a juice deflector 25 being associated withthe trash bar of each mill in such manner that juice from the bagasseroll is directed into the associated tray 24.

Connected to the header 2| of the trash bar of the final mill E of thejuice expressing apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is a conductor26, which leads from a source of water or other macerating fluid. Thisconductor has associated with it a suitable pump which serves to forcefluid therethrough under pressure, this fluid passing from said header2| through the conductors 22 associated therewith, and through thepassage-ways I l into the elongated opening l3, from which opening saidfluid is forcibly discharged through the orifice IS in the perforatedplate Hi. In like manner, the headers associated with the trash bars ofthe second mill D and the first mill C are connected in communicationwith pipes which conduct liquid to said headers. The pipe 21 leading tothe trash bar of the second mill D communicates with the interior of thetray 23 of the final mill E, as shown most clearly at 28 in Figure 2,and a pump 29 is associated with said pipe in a manner to cause liquidto be withdrawn from the tray 23 of the final mill and forced throughthe pipe 21 to the header 2| of the second mill D, whence said liquid isforced upwardly through the conductors 22, passageways l4, and elongatedopening |3, where it is discharged through the apertures IQ of theperforated plate l8. The pipe 30 leading to the trash bar of the firstmill C is arranged in communication with the tray 23 of the second millD. This pipe has associated therewith a pump 3| which serves to withdrawliquid from the tray 23 of the second mill D and force said liquidthrough the pipe 30 to the second mill 2| of the trash bar of the firstmill, whence said liquid is forced Leading from the juice tray 24 ofeach of the mills is a pipe through which juice is forced to a remotepoint where said juice is discharged on the mat of bagasse passingthrough the apparatus. Thus a pipe 32 leads from the juice tray 24 ofthe first mill C to a discharge point 33 immediately adjacent thedischarge side of the preliminary crusher B. This pipe 32 has a pump 34associated therewith which acts to withdraw juice from the tray 24 ofthe first mill and discharge said juice from a suitable discharge head35 onto the mat of bagasse passing between the preliminary crusher B andthe first mill 0. The pipe 36 which leads from the juice tray 24 of thesecond mill D has a pump 3| associated therewith, and said pipe extendsto a discharge point 38 immediately above the bagasse discharge roll Rof the first mill C, where said pipe is provided with a suitabledischarge head 39. In like manner the pipe 40, which has a pump 4|associated therewith, leads from the juice tray 24 to the final mill Eto a discharge point 42 immediately above the bagasse discharge roll Rof the second mill D, where said pipe is provided with a discharge head43. The pumps 3'! and 4| associated with the pipes 36 and 40 draw juicefrom the juice trays 24 of the second and final mills and discharge saidjuice from the discharge heads onto the mat of bagasse passing over thebagasse discharge rolls of the first and second mills. Valves 43 areassociated with the various pipes through which macerating liquid ispassed so that the flow of liquid through said pipes may be regulated.Also it is obvious that the apparatus A would include means forconducting juice away from the trays 23 and 24 of the various mills topoints remote from the apparatus for subsequent treatment, but as suchmeans are quite common same have not been shown in the drawings.However, I have shown the pipe H leading from the juice tray 23 underthe first mill C to a point remote from the apparatus where the juice issubjected to further treatment well understood in the art.

In the operation of a juice-expressing apparatus constructed inaccordance with this invention, macerating liquid is discharged into themat of bagasse from the perforated plates of the turnplates II and fromthe discharge heads of the pipes 32, 36, and 40 to very completelymacerate said bagasse. In this connection it has been found in actualpractice that when the macerating liquid is discharged into the bagasseunder from 40 to 60 pounds pressure, such pressure is suflicient toallow the mat of bagasse to absorb the macerating liquid up to 35percent. Due to the application of the macerating liquid by jet actionto the mat of bagasse while the same is passing over the turnplates in amore or less expanded state, the extraction of juice by the top rolls Tof the various mills is much higher than with the old system of singlemaceration on each mill.

An important feature of this invention is that there is no limit as tothe temperature of the macerating liquid. On a mill equipped with theold method of single macerationthat is, applying the macerating liquidin front of the feed and top rolls of the mill, the highest temperaturethat could be maintained without causing the mill to slip and choke wasdegrees. By applying the macerating liquid through the turnplates ascontemplated by this invention, a temperature of 200 degrees has beenmaintained without any indication of mill slippage, but this hightemperature has a tendency to extract the gums. However, it has beenfound in actual practice that the temperature of the macerating liquidmay be carried as high as degrees without encountering any diflicultiesin connection with the defecation of juices.

If desired, each header 2| may be provided with means 44 (Fig. 3) forcoupling a steam pipe to said header. By this arrangement steam may bepassed through the fluid passageways associated with the trash bars soas to clean out said passage-ways and thus prevent juice from lodgingtherein and becoming contaminated.

It is important to note that a particular advantage of the invention isthat the improved results which follow the use of the invention areobtained without modifying the structure of the cane mills as heretoforeemployed except that the structure of the turnplate is changed. Also,the improved turnplate employed in carrying out the invention is madenarrower than heretofore, which allows for free lifting of the top rollsof the mills, owing to the decreased angles between the top rolls andthe feed and bagasse discharge rolls.

Instead of providing the plates l8 of the turnplates with taperedcircular apertures as shown in Figure '7 of the drawings, I may employplates 45 (Fig. 6) having elongated, slot-like apertures as indicated at46, these elongated apertures being cut at a taper angle of 45 degreesin the direction of travel of the mat of bagasse, so as to overcomepossibility of choking by bagacillo when same passes over the plate.

It is essential in my apparatus to have the two separate juice trays 23and 24, as the sugar juices expressed from the bagasse must be kept incontinuous progression toward the point remote from the apparatus wheresaid sugar juices are subjected to treatment for recovering the sugartherefrom, and such progression must not be subject to such delay aswill permit fermentation to set in. The juice trays 23 and 24 are ofsufficient capacity to have the juice caught therein promptly removedtherefrom by the pump associated with each juice tray.

I claim:

In a juice-expressing apparatus, the combination of a plurality of millsarranged in tandem, means for passing a mat of bagasse successivelythrough each mill, each mill being composed of a top roll, a feed rolland a discharge roll, means for supplying a macerating fluid to the matof bagasse passing through the last of said series of mills at a pointbetween the feed and discharge rolls, and means associated with eachmill for separately recovering the fluid expressed from the bagasse bythe top and feed rolls and by the top and discharge rolls, respectively,and applying said separate bodies of fluid to the bagasse passingthrough the next preceding mill at points in advance of and beyond, re-

spectively, the discharge roll of the said preceding mill, one of saidseparate juice-removing means of the first of the series of said millsbeing adapted to transfer juices received therein to points remote fromthe apparatus.

WILLIAM D. HYMERS.

